John Hough, Ph.D.

Dr. Hough’s professional career began in 1975 at Windy Acres Farms in Brenham, Texas and Harrison, Nebraska as show and sale cattle manager. From 1978 to 1982 he was general manager for Circle G Angus Farm in Hampton, Georgia. Dr. Hough then decided to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Georgia. Following completion of his Doctorate in 1987, he accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Beef Cattle Breeding in the Animal and Dairy Science Department at Auburn University. Private industry beckoned and for eight years Dr. Hough was Vice President and Director of Education and Research, American Polled Hereford Association in Kansas City, Missouri and later in the same position with the American Hereford Association when the two breeds merged. Dr. Hough currently holds an Adjunct Professor appointment in the Animal and Dairy Science Department at the University of Georgia.

Dr. Hough has received many awards and recognitions over the years. As an undergraduate at Iowa State he was President of Block and Bridle Club, Animal Science Outstanding Freshman, Animal Science Outstanding Senior and member Livestock judging teams and Meat Animal Evaluation team. In graduate school at the University of Georgia, John was recognized in Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges, was President of the Animal and Dairy Science Graduate Student Association, received the Animal and Dairy Science Outstanding Graduate Student Award and the E. G. Dawson Graduate Scholarship. After graduate school, Dr. Hough received the Alabama BCIA Outstanding Service Award, was elected to the BIF Board of Directors, was the Committee Chair for the BIF Whole Herd Analysis committee, advisor to Animal Ultrasound Practitioners Association, received the BIF Continuing Service Award and was a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association IRM Production Efficiency Subcommittee.

Dr. Hough, an Iowa native, has managed a purebred operation, taught animal breeding at the university level, and directed the performance program for a major breed association. Some notable aspects of Dr. Hough’s work have been in the area of whole-herd reporting systems, integrated production systems, carcass EPDs, ultrasound technology, technician certification and utilization, multiple-trait selection systems and development of international genetic evaluation.

While at Auburn University, John was very involved in the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association. He was the author of the computer system for maintaining performance records for the Alabama BCIA, which is still in use today. He also taught animal breeding, beef production and advanced beef production during his University tenure. His research interests involved response to selection for ultrasound ribeye area in purebred cattle, evaluation of across-breed EPDs, selection programs for scrotal circumference and comparison of methods to predict genetic trend.

At the American Polled Hereford Association and with its merger with the American Hereford Association, Dr. Hough directed the first international genetic evaluation of any beef breed. The North American Hereford Genetic Evaluation was a joint effort with the University of Georgia and three breed associations. John was extremely involved with the Beef Improvement Federation, serving two board terms and being the chairman of the Whole-herd Analysis Committee for six years. He was instrumental in developing ultrasound carcass evaluation and certification procedures and was a founding advisor of the Animal Ultrasound Practitioners Association. John directed the first National Carcass Evaluation of three traits based on ultrasound technology.

Education

B.S. Animal Science, Iowa State University, 1975.
M.S. Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Georgia, 1984.
Ph.D. Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Georgia, 1987.

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